Honmamon (2001)

Honmamon 2001 / ほんまもん 2001 / She's the Real Thing

Yamanaka Konoha is an 18-year-old girl born in the Kumano area of Wakayama prefecture deep in the country. The family makes its living in forestry but barely gets by. Konoha's mother, Senri, is an instructor of Kumano Kodo (ancient arts and practices of living in the Kumano area) who teaches traditional farming techniques and tells historical lore to visitors. The father, Ichiro, whose family had forested the hills for generations, has a secret ambition to start his own restaurant in Osaka. Konoha grew up in the deep forests of the hills and was trained by her grandfather, Sadamichi. He is an itinerant priest and teaches Konoha ranger skills and various forms of the art of meditation like praying while standing underneath a waterfall. Konoha, who is a senior in high school, is wondering what to do with her life. The story circulates around food. Konoha's grandmother, Fuji, passes away one day. As her last meal, Ichiro makes her chagayu (rice gruel made with Japanese tea), which she eats with an expression of happiness. On witnessing this, Konoha decides to study to become a cook with the belief that ‟good food can make people happy.‟ Konoha has an inbred talent for tasting good food, which was passed down from her father. When her father decided to leave Kumano for Osaka to start up his own restaurant, Konoha decides to go with him. They leave together, Konoha to study from the basics of the arts of cooking and Ichiro to fulfill his dream and become the owner of his own restaurant. (Source: DramaWiki)